Encounters with the Cross of Light

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These works were never intended to be objects alone, but places of encounter.

Over the years, moments have unfolded around them—quiet, unexpected, and at times deeply personal.

 

What follows are a few of those stories.

 

 

Crux Gloria — Part I: The Visitation (1988)

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In 1988, I was living in Loudoun County, Virginia, in a stone farmhouse. I slept on the second floor. ​In the middle of the night, as I lay on my side, the presence of God entered the room.

It was so palpable, so encompassing, that I could not move. And yet, I was completely held in the most profound love I had ever known—far beyond anything I could have imagined.

I knew it was Jesus. I said as much to Him:
“Oh… It’s You, Jesus.”

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He directed my vision out through the second-story window into the pasture. There were no natural lights—but there, in the darkness, was a cross.

It hovered above the ground, large—twenty, maybe thirty feet high—and it glowed.

But what was truly remarkable was His form.

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Where one might expect the stillness of a carved figure, this was alive—alive with fire. It was as if the sun itself had taken on His shape.

Suddenly, I was moving toward it—drawn supernaturally. I could hear a kind of crackling, like standing near something immensely powerful, almost beyond comprehension.

And then, in an instant, I was within Him—within His form—my arms outstretched.

But this was not suffering.
This was a victory.

Victory through the cross.
Victory over darkness.

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I experienced a complete forgiveness—my sin shedding from me like an old skin.

After some time, I was returned to the room, back into my body.

 

And the Lord said:

 

“Get up. I want you to draw this. You are going to build this cross—for My cross is a cross of light.”

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I hesitated. I didn’t want the moment to end.

“I won’t forget, Lord…” I said.

But He spoke again, more firmly:
“Get up and draw the cross as you have seen it.”

I rose immediately. There was no more sleep in me.

I went out to my barn studio in the early morning hours and began.

With channel steel and tubular steel, I formed the cross. I marked the shape of His body with soapstone, then cut it through—front and back—so that one could see straight through it.

Only later did I realize what had been made: A doorway - through His form.

 

Through what He accomplished on the cross.

A way into the promised land—open to anyone.

That was the beginning of what would come to be known as Crux Gloria.

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The Man on the Highway

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I was visiting a friend named Alvin, who owned a health food store in Winchester, Virginia.

When I walked in, Alvin turned to a man in the store and said,
“Joe, this is the guy who built the cross.”

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The man—biker, braided beard, leather vest—looked every bit the part. He came straight toward me and stood uncomfortably close.

He said, “I had something happen with that cross. I’ve never been able to figure it out. I’m going to tell you what happened.” I said, “Alright.” He continued: “I work the graveyard shift. I’m driving home around three in the morning. Everything’s pitch black—just my headlights… and your cross, glowing on the side of the road. As I passed it, something happened. A beam of light shot into my car—like a laser. It lit up the whole dash. Everything was glowing.” 

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He looked at me and said, “What was that?”

 

I told him, “It wasn’t anything I designed or did. I’d say that was the Lord reaching out to touch you—wanting to communicate something to you.”

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He cut me off: “I’m a Buddhist. Not some new age Buddhist—I’ve been practicing for twenty years. I don’t have any room for Christ.”

 

I said, “well, this is an example of Him reaching out to you, brother. I’d recommend you pick up a Bible—start with the Gospel of John—and see if He doesn’t continue the conversation.”

He paused, then said, “Thank you.” And he left the store.

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Alvin stood there wide-eyed. “Well… there’s a story for you.”

I looked at him and said, “The Lord’s on the move.”

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